Caregivers and Food Insecurities

We often hear about food insecurities among college students, elder adults, and veterans. However, we rarely hear about food insecurities among persons living with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers, especially home caregivers. As you may know, there is a dire need to provide healthy food across America. Food insecurity is described as the inability to secure enough money or having access to buy the healthy foods you need, or if you have to skip one or more meals. In 2016, 41.2 million people in America lived in food-insecure households.

Worrying about how to feed your family (or yourself) does not exist in isolation. People who are food-insecure struggle with poverty and often have to decide whether to pay their rent or their electricity, pay for medication, get a MetroCard—or pay for healthy food.

Food insecurity does not have a particular race, gender, or color, and often income does not exempt some people from this insecurity, especially caregivers. It affects people of all ages, and many experience being food insecure intermittently, depending upon their situation. The expense of caring for someone with Alzheimer's or a related dementia is astronomical, and most of the care is not covered by insurance, medicare or medicaid. As well, most people cannot afford to pay these expenses based upon savings or loans.
According to Feed America, there are four major causes of food insecurities:
1. Poverty, unemployment, or low income;
2. Lack of affordable housing;
3. Chronic health conditions or lack of access to healthcare; and,
4. Systemic racism or racial discrimination.
Caregivers and people living with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias occupy at least 3 of four of these categories.
It has been reported that over 35% of caregivers, depending upon the state, experience food insecurity.
According to a study by the CDC, people who have been caregivers for 6 months or less than 2 years were more likely to experience food insecurity. As well, food related stress may be more intense from 6 months to less than 2 years of caregiving, when caregivers require more food related support.

The James M. Dixon Foundation began supporting caregivers and those living with Alzheimer's and related dementias with food insecurities. It is a big task to locate and support this population, usually because caregivers often do not readily seek assistance. Your support of this effort is greatly needed and appreciated. We can provide healthy food, for a family of 4, for a week for approximately $100 per family.